Behind every great restaurant, there is a vision. Behind every dish that makes you close your eyes to savor it more deeply, there is a story of dedication, mistakes, triumphs, and an unshakable passion. At the heart of La Makha—this sanctuary where Colombia’s flavors are reinterpreted with reverence and ingenuity—beats the talent and philosophy of a man who has turned cooking into his language to tell the stories of a territory: Chef David Suárez Estrada.
His name has become synonymous with elevated Colombian cuisine. But this elevation does not arise from pretension, rather from a profound understanding of global techniques, a palate refined in some of the world’s best kitchens, and above all, a visceral love for the native ingredients of his homeland. David Suárez does not cook from ego; he cooks from a deep sense of curiosity and origin.
Professional Journey: The Foundations of a Master
Chef Suárez Estrada’s journey is proof that excellence is built with humility and an insatiable thirst for learning. His path was not a straight line but a mosaic of experiences that shaped his vision.
The Formative European Years: Like many great chefs of his generation, David understood that to reinterpret his own culinary culture, he first had to master the universal language of technique. His time in Spain and France was decisive. In Michelin-starred kitchens, he learned strict discipline, the importance of precise mise en place, and the handling of top-quality products. He did not just learn how to cook; he learned to think of cooking as a system of processes, flavors, and textures perfectly orchestrated.
The Search for His Own Voice: And yet, something was missing. Perfect sauces and exact cooking techniques were tools, but they did not tell his story. It was at this moment of professional introspection that his journey of return—conceptual rather than geographical—toward Colombia began. He asked himself: How would the great European masters apply their techniques if they had Colombia’s overflowing biodiversity at their fingertips? This question became the obsession that would define his career.
The Return to His Roots: His return to Colombia was not a simple change of scenery. It was an ethnographic immersion. David became a tireless traveler within his own country. He explored local markets, spoke with traditional cooks in remote villages, shared time with indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, and marveled at fruits, roots, and herbs he had never even seen before. This stage was crucial: it was the moment the technician became a storyteller.
Inspiration to Create a Cuisine of Origin
Chef David Suárez Estrada’s culinary philosophy can be summed up in one maxim: “Technique must serve the ingredient, never the other way around.” His inspiration does not first emerge from avant-garde cookbooks but from the land itself.
The Market as a Muse: For David, the creative process begins at dawn in the markets. There, among the hands that cultivate and harvest, he finds his true muse. A perfectly ripe chontaduro, a golden criolla potato, a unique chili pepper from a specific Amazonian village… these are the starting points of his creations. He listens to the product and designs the dish around it, seeking to exalt its essence, never to mask it.
Emotional Memory and Avant-Garde Technique: Many of his dishes are a dialogue between emotional memory and cutting-edge training. A yuca purée reminiscent of his childhood, refined through a fine sieve and finished with pork crackling powder to intensify its flavor. A sancocho not served as a soup, but deconstructed—its elements presented separately so diners can rediscover a familiar taste from a new perspective. It is nostalgia elevated to its highest form.
The Narrative of the Territory: Every dish at La Makha tells a geographical and cultural story. The 7-step tasting menu is its ultimate expression: a carefully mapped journey across Colombia’s ecosystems. David acts as the guide, selecting the most representative ingredients from each region and applying precise culinary techniques (dehydration, fermentation, sous-vide cooking, foams) to intensify their essence and weave a coherent and exciting narrative.
The Legacy: Redefining What It Means to Be “Colombian” in Cuisine
Chef David Suárez Estrada’s work transcends his restaurant’s kitchen. His true legacy lies in placing Colombian gastronomy on a new map—not as an exotic cuisine, but as an author’s cuisine with identity, technique, and depth.
He has shown that one can be deeply local and openly global at the same time. That one can honor the grandmother cooking over firewood without rejecting the tools of modernity. He is a bridge between tradition and innovation, between countryside and city, between Colombia and the world.
Do You Want to Discover the Work of a Visionary?
The best way to understand Chef David Suárez Estrada’s vision is to sit at his table and allow him to tell you, through his creations, the story of Colombia.
Discover the chef’s menu and book your experience at La Makha here:
Every bite is the final chapter of a long journey of exploration—a journey David began years ago and now generously shares with all who seek to taste the true essence of a country.
